Dale Jr. On Talladega Fuel-Saving, Michael Jordan’s Influence & Scoring Pylons | Dale Jr Download

Dale Earnhardt Jr. returns to the Bojangles Studio after a thrilling Talladega Cup race for a new edition of Dirty Air.

From scoring pylons to saving fuel, there was a lot to unpack in this episode:
– A new “grumpy old man” moment
– What does Dale think about the scoring pylons?
– How can NASCAR solve the fuel-saving dilemma on drafting tracks?
– Shorter races vs. more stages: “Don’t take chips out of my bag!”
– Michael McDowell makes one block too many
– Race winner Tyler Reddick calls into the show
– The impact of Michael Jordan being in Victory Lane

During the Ask Jr. portion of the episode, listeners sent in questions regarding:
– Frontstretch interviews vs. Victory Lane interviews
– Most heartbreaking race loss
– New parenting lessons
– Meeting and interacting with Michael Jordan

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hey everybody it’s Dale junr back again
for another episode of the Dell junr
download here in the Bojangle Studio
it’s Tuesday little dirty air this
morning we’re going to cover the
Talladega race everything going on in
the sport and Tyler reic our winner is
going to call in tell us all about it
excited to get this show going so let’s
go the following is a production of
Dirty Mo
[Music]
media so back in the Bojangle studio for
another episode theale junr download now
through May 5th speaking of Bojangles
have you got any of those free bird dogs
by using that promo code Dale Jr if you
place your order at bojangles.com on the
website there or in the app there’s
participating stores that will give you
these free bird dogs with the promo code
Dale Jr d l
ejr go online and get those bird dogs
while they’re hot yeah that was a good
read right there that was pretty good
you nailed it was good Wednesday we have
pretty cool guest coming in here for for
that show tomorrow Casey Atwood man I’ve
been wanting to talk to him and reading
up about what he’s been up to uh not
only we’re going to learn a lot about uh
you know the his history and the sport
and everything he went through but he’s
still out there driving laps I love that
you know can’t get it out of their blood
yeah can’t stop um so we’ll see what
Casey has been up to the last when we
dug
into uh you know what what we could
learn about him I mean the first thing
or the last thing that we could find was
an article 10 years ago with Marty Smith
the great Marty Smith we haven’t really
heard from him since this will be nice
not Marty Casey Casey yeah so uh looking
forward to that tomorrow but let’s go
ahead and get right to some dirty air um
let’s
see let me get my notes out here for um
our personal
stories I saw par I saw an old man yells
at Cloud there were a few of those uh
last week that’s been a fun little I
guess segment right um so I was driving
around the other day surely you guys
have seen this um these guys taking
these 4×4 pickup trucks and dropping the
back down uh ra front about is that the
Carolina it’s only it’s only in the
Carolina I’m sure stupid is all over the
place but yeah what is that it’s dumb
what is that it’s you guys are young
y’all are into that I ain’t that no
that’s just St that’s y thing what’s
going on with that tell me why y’all are
doing that Andrew seems like the kind of
person that would do that yeah you know
what you know you’re messing up you know
the the universal joints Drive Chef all
the rear suspension the toe alignment in
the front all that’s getting jacked up
right you know that you know you’re
going to you know you’re going to have
issues you know the universal joints
coming out of that truck in about four
years do you know that you know that
you’re probably knocking the rear seal
out of the transmission in the crank
case or the 4×4 crank case you know that
yeah not until now yeah it look
sick what a but I look so cool what a
bad thing to do to your car or your
truck I think it’s awful I’m sorry man
it makes me sick yeah I don’t it’s four
by these are
4x4s I don’t understand how they see
because it’s they’re up straight and I
it’s bad it’s pretty pretty bad they
they made it it’s illegal it’s got to be
bad for I guess it has been made illegal
I still see them oh yeah um who who
thinks that looks good not me they do no
who’s they the 4×4 people I would love
to meet one person that thinks that
that’s a attractive looking car or truck
and really I don’t know that I’d want to
meet that person no I mean I’m I’m look
man from a distance you like I’m open
I’m open to hearing their take on why
this is a cool thing or why why they did
this to the truck or I’m open to hearing
like what what
are you are you willing to be convinced
if you if you hear a good enough answer
I I doubt that I’ll be convinced that
that I I’m going like it but yeah I’ll
give them a chance to explain what it is
about that you know you know a lot of
times um listen man I
mean I I’m trying to think of why you
would want to do that to your truck and
other than that you know just for fun I
think that’s it right but there’s no
practical reason behind it a lot of
times like when you’re that age right
put yourself back in you know we’re
going to assume large majority of people
that are doing this are anywhere from 16
to you know 20 24 years old right 22
right that that sort of you know going
coming out of high school going into
college what are you worried about at
that point in your life right you’re
worried about girls yeah right
everything’s about like I’m wearing I’m
wearing this and I’m doing this and I’m
everything is geared toward because I
believe this makes me more attractive
you think that’s why they’re doing it to
the trucks 100% really yeah 100% so
girls like it I think one girl said she
liked it and she probably was like the
prettiest girl in school and so every
other guy at that school did it and it
just started spreading like wildfire
yeah so there had to be a trend like
there was probably a trend back in high
school that like that I I’m not
convinced girls like it because I I I
look back at the stuff that I did in war
thinking that I was making myself more
attractive to girls and I was not and my
wife will tell me like when she sees
pictures she’s like girl I’m just saying
like the pants I wore shirts whatever
hat the way I wore hat or whatever the
way I had my hair right yeah Oh I
thought that was absolutely the way I
needed it right to be able to attract a
female and my wife will look at it and
go this is awful no girl likes this you
were hurting your chances right
least I think this is also the case with
the trucks I don’t see but I don’t think
that they’re getting any compliments
from girls I think it’s only dudes that
are coming up and going squ
dude’s no girl a doing that I think
that’s the thing it’s like they’re not
getting the girls but the guys like it
so oh girls must like hping each other
up squat dude okay so yeah so that that
so they’re raising their sort of their
profile with their buddies right because
they get yeah yeah okay
well I’m just curious about I see it and
I’m like God you know I’m I’m not sure
what’s going on here and what what this
is all about cuz a 4×4 truck man for
years and for decades it’s all about
getting bigger tires and getting higher
right right raising it up getting it
getting bigger bigger tires now we’re
dropping them
wait you you going get high side that
thing get stuck
somewhere right yeah not practical at
all that’s not good no not functional
anymore what do you mean your truck got
stuck yeah I squatted over this rock and
couldn’t get off I don’t
know I just worried about that man I
don’t know what’s going on that that’s
that there’s no way that that Trend
lasts right I hope not they’re trying
way they’re trying to outlaw it so it’s
obviously stupid like well if they
outlaw it that’s probably going to
encourage it and so that’s probably
going to make it last longer than it
should so you and you and you hating on
it right now is going to make people
want it even more I don’t know m- yeah
no you got to encourage it you think my
you think my influence of of hating is
going to work people people are going to
Rebel it’s like it’s like it’s like am I
that am I that in that place in my life
people are not I’ve been forever it’s
been like oh Dale likes it I like it I
mean yeah a young so now I’m shifting
into oh Dale likes it I don’t I don’t
like it anymore I don’t know if you’re
the old man yelling at the cloud I am
then I don’t know people rebel against
that yeah all right well um oh I guess
we should say too uh just so you
know the back you know not in the next
month but very soon I’m going to go to
another location and do this show and so
um you know for the audio people you
won’t really miss a beat but for video
I’ll be in a different room we should
let them know mhm be prepared oh man
we’ve been working on that it’s going to
be a culture shock the first time they
see it I’m just going to be on I’m going
on vacation for a couple months and so
at least that’s my plan unless somebody
tries to fill my calendar up with stuff
to do which which is really what
everybody tries to do but I’m going to
go uh I’m going to take a summer uh at
least the mainly the month of June and
go do this show from another location
and it won’t I will wish I was in this
room in this chair with you guys but
that’s what we’re going to
do so be ready thanks for telling me now
cuz I can start mentally prepar well me
and you we have all been sort of you
know testing equipment making sure
everything’s going to work
right the great thing about that I think
for people to look forward to is so
there’s a lot of guests that we haven’t
had on the show because they can’t get
to the room right we’re not doing zooms
anymore right we don’t do and we don’t
we’re not a show except for on our
Tuesday winter Callin we don’t do a lot
of video and and remote conversations I
like them here at the table but since
I’m going to be out of town we’re going
to have some guest on our show that
we’re we wouldn’t normally have because
we’ll be doing them remotely some pretty
cool guests some pretty cool guests
which is g to be neat that’ll be fun
anyhow so we got that look forward to
let’s go and move on to uhh Talladega
like I said Tyler red is going to call
in tell us all about how he drove
through all that nastiness on the last
lap to win the race his experience with
Michael Jordan as uh um as Michael’s
able to celebrate that win really cool
to see
um and I I you’re seeing one of the
great things about all of that is you’re
seeing NASCAR being talked about in
other places that we traditionally don’t
go in old old places we used to go right
um because of Michael Jordan you know
the influence that he has you can’t
measure it um the value uh as of having
him as an owner we all talked about that
for the last couple of years right how
important that is but now having but now
we’re realizing that
value uh as a winning owner imagine if
Michael Jordan’s car wins the
championship one day all right and we
have him on stage giving an owner
speech I’m here for what a day that
would be so I think we all are um and
it’s interesting man uh talking to you
know listening to some of the
conversations in the industry how a lot
of people like Tyler maybe even know him
mainly by the shoes man and not the game
so that’s what uh that is fascinating
Tyler said in his postrace press
conference that Bo his son who was held
like Michael Jordan was holding him on
Pit Road he said he knows him as the
shoe guy and doesn’t really know him as
like the legend that he actually is
that’s crazy that’s wild that’s insane
because I mean there’s no uh you know
there there’s no debate about who was
the greatest basketball NBA player of
all time it’s Michael
Jordan um and I agree I’m a bit biased
because of his connection to the Tar
Heels and playing in North Carolina and
his college uh career but you know the
guy was just magic he transcended the
the the sport and like you know unlike
anybody ever has sense right
nobody’s he the the person that he was
off the
court um and how far and how far that
reach was right it’s Global and so
nobody’s been able to do that um so I
think that’s why he’s he’s the greatest
of all time we’re not who are we to be
contemplating you know that argument but
I’m I’m pretty convinced nobody’s going
to changeed my mind it’s Michael Jordan
um
anyhow uh a lot going on this past
weekend there was the scoring pylon
conversation going on about the old
pylons coming down there’s been a lot of
talk talk about that uh and and there
was initially a lot of reaction of oh my
God I can’t believe they’re doing this
but then Jeff Gluck and the guys get to
the bottom of it
and discover how all of
these pylons are Obsolete and when they
fail when they break their parts aren’t
available to fix uh and they’re
expensive and putting up a new pylon
yeah that’s a possibility and if track
wants to invest in that it’s fine I
think pylons are great I think that they
add to uh the vibe at the racetrack you
know
and while um I would say this
so Talladega scoring P it wasn’t really
a pylon so
much I didn’t like that one I remember I
that one wasn’t very good you couldn’t
read it uh like positionally like where
it was located all of it yeah you
couldn’t read it the damn bulbs and the
that that made the that Lit the numbers
up were so tiny and too small and and it
was almost
like you ever had a calculator that was
like the batteries dying and they like
the numbers were kind of fading and
you’re like oh put in the sun to get it
was like that and so you know what
talladas I won’t miss it I won’t could
they replace it with an L LED screen
that would give you all that information
yeah and they they probably should you
know um well they I don’t know but
that’s fine I I didn’t love the one that
was there I won’t miss it I would
every you know the race was always going
on during the day and or whatever it may
be and you’d come out of the bus or
you’d drive into the bus lot or what we
were moving in and around the gar the
infield going to appearances or whatever
it may be and you’re look at that thing
go I can’t freaking read I can’t you
know you look at it and have to really
study it to understand what you’re
looking at and get you know trying to
figure out what you know it was a pain
in the ass so byebye see you later I’m
fine with it now the one you know the
one that’s like at Texas that type of
pylon at that size of a racetrack in
that
location is is is necessary I’d agree
with that yeah that one that one that
one uh that one probably should they
should consider you know something
coming back there
um when you
uh you look at the one in Indianapolis
you and and Texas is owned by Marcus
Smith he put an incredible pylon at
North wilbor Speedway they could have
just left that old busted up pylon there
and not even refurbished it or took it
down entirely but they put an LD LED
screen there complete with the old rust
marks and all that stuff and and so they
know there is they they will do the
effort when they see the value and and
we’ll see what they do at
Texas so I think at certain tracks it’s
it’s absolutely part of the atmosphere
it’s an it’s an important addition and
necessary addition to a
racetrack uh I would say that it compare
this to the flagman right we’re moving
into the future and we’re making things
more automated we’re making things
easier and more less
expensive Nascar has multiple flagman on
payroll they could
absolutely have a big giant block at the
flagst that was an LED light that lit up
whatever color green red yellow and and
take that flag man out of the out of
that flagst
entirely right
um but that flagman is
so critical to the DNA of Motorsport
right you would never do that NASCAR’s
not going to do that that’s a bit
extreme of a comparison but that’s
that’s the way I kind of feel about the
pylon in certain instances
the pylon itself is a is a staple much
you know much like any kind of a
um it’s it’s like a it’s it’s a it’s
almost a
historical monument style Vibe with it
right it’s certain racetracks they’re
just you just it’s not a racetrack
without it and so I would I would say at
Texas I would try to I would try to put
something back in its place comparable
at Talladega with such a large
infield you need to do something a
little more creative if you’re going to
replace what was there what was there
wasn’t wasn’t functional didn’t work for
me
um and and it and it was outdated and
and um I won’t miss that one but so what
you’re saying there is kind of what
Nascar was thinking for Talladega uh I
saw on Twitter Toby Christie tweeted
like he talked to NASCAR representative
and the decision was to invest in more
video boards around the track so more of
the crowd especially those infield
campers could see some sort of scoring
some sort of Replay we’ll see we’ll see
what they end up putting back there um
it’s such a giant infield honestly man
uh you saw all of the you know when you
think about
Talladega I think about the boulevard
the partying people come to that race
for the party for the hell raising as
much as the race itself yeah right the
race is really the the desert the main
course is the experience the three or
four night experience of being in that
environment partying every single day
drinking beer roaming around and seeing
the sits and looking at looking at
everybody’s creativity of their campsite
and what they’ve decided to do people
build out entire elaborate sort of set
right that there’s a there used to be a
guy I don’t know if he’s still there but
there was somebody that would set up a
bar he paid money to go in it was a
cover and everybody in the infield would
go into this tent right and drink and
they H they had a bar bar and servers
and so employees they were yeah I mean
listen man they had a flatbed with some
ladies dancing on it we saw that video
right that that what that wasn’t happen
stance there’s somebody probably planned
that there was a there was an
establishment that was yeah you know
local to to the area that decided to the
Gluck and Bob poker’s tweet up looked a
little bit
different you know there’s e there’s
there’s there’s um there’s like a agenda
behind all of that right and
so instead of worrying about this
scoring pylon at Talladega
specifically ier my ah for years right
they built this big open area Big
Bill uh sort of like the infield in the
garage area yeah in the garage right so
it it’s an open
a uh food
court you know for fans that that were
that and it’s at the garage right it’s a
little bit too close to the to the work
for me like I love the access and if I’m
a fan and I want to see what’s going in
the garages which there’s not a whole
lot these days it’s kind of a cool place
but I really think they would have been
better served or might be better served
in the future at to at Talladega
specifically to build
out right real real close to where this
scoring py line was a an
infield
bar and try to um capitalize on what’s
going on in that infield
man you know I think that there’s a
there’s a there’s a there’s a financial
you know there’s a there economical
impact that could be positive to for the
racetrack if they were
to try to better
organize the the party and the
celebration that it is much like you
know Indie has the snake pit if you go
to Indianapolis right they got the snake
pit but they also have these other
spaces on the property that are other
concerts other other area if you’re not
a snake pit type of person if you don’t
want to go and get into that craziness
there’s other places for you to go and
see other entertainment right and I
think Talladega could capitalize on that
um and they need to they they when you
go to infield at Talladega there’s a
large large grassy spot right in the
middle of the racetrack that they don’t
Camp nobody there’s nothing there
that’s spot blank spot right it’s a
canvas ready to be carved up and create
you know something that can can be
created
there um and I don’t think it’d be that
expensive to be honest with you to build
it out feel like it’ end up paying for
itself almost yeah and would give fans
somewhere to go that would be out of the
sun somewhere for them to uh you know
they have that big giant concert which
is really kind of cool right every year
they have this big concert at Talladega
that’s important it’s part of the
weekend um it Rivals the race in terms
of of of popularity for the fans they
are very uh opinionated about the you
know the guests or the or the musical
act that’s going to play It’s better be
big better be important better be the
new latest and greatest
right and so they need to continue to
try to um in you know get creative with
The Fan Experience
in the
infield before they worried about
spending you know a couple million
dollars on a pylon yeah I mean Jeff
Gluck and the athletic uh on the tear
down said a new pylon costs $5
million and they talk about the
boulevard being
crazy they the Boulevard’s got nothing
on free
camping I’m G promise you that I used to
hang out back in the day I used to hang
out with some boys uh from Alabama that
that went to free camping right
and they they they they
weren’t uh they they weren’t uh well off
enough to be going into the boulevard
they were the free camping boys and the
stories out there and the things that
you hear about it’s crazy it’s even more
Lawless craziness oh yeah would you have
liked to have seen them keep the pylon
up even if it didn’t work like as a
relic you know similar to
Northboro so I wouldn’t at at Texas no
okay um you know at Talladega no so you
want it to be functional or yeah okay I
think so that’s fair this is the
question I’ll be I’ll be honest with you
man I think if it doesn’t work either
replace it or take it down right you
know
um if it was if you know at Talladega
man no I I’ll be honest with you at
Talladega not a lot of people can can
look close their eyes and imagine what
that thing looked like I can’t even do
it it’s not memorable that’s a good
point and it’s not it wasn’t very
functionable it’s not memorable right so
yeah don’t waste your time leaving that
thing up now if it’s iconic and it’s and
it and and you’re used to seeing it
there and if it were to be gone you
would immediately notice right then
maybe you want to leave that one up or
you know remodel it to the L LED side
you know type of deal where like the
Indianapolis did but that’s a lot of
money they k
they did they did but theirs is very
very
important in pylons that’s the pylon
right in Indianapolis that’s that’s the
one all pylons strive to
be some just don’t make it they don’t
nope and again Texas I think got damaged
by some storms you have that happening
and and at least I think maybe that was
Atlanta or Texas one of
them did you see the tweet from do
yesterday they have they have pylon
decided to use this this weekend and it
was the picture their pylon yeah they
their pylon important so at do I I mean
every single when qualifying was
happening you’re staring at that thing
staring at it especially if you put your
number on it you’re like oh somebody
beat me damn it you know you’re looking
at that pylon I mean you you just don’t
know how much you’re looking at it until
it’s gone so I’m I do love P I’m Pro
pylon I am um sure but hey you know
there’s a sensible conversation to be
had around it
but I I didn’t jump into the initial
reaction on Twitter because I’ve I’ve
made that mistake before where getting
all up in arms that’s why I love this
show happening on Tuesday if we did this
show
yesterday oh man I would I would just be
just complaining the entire time but it
gives me a little bit time to rest relax
calm
down um
let’s get on into uh I guess you know we
can talk about fuel mileage and fuel
saving
um you know I I think that you know we
we
can we can talk about that all we want
the teams
have you know the teams you know like
Denny said the teams are telling him to
do this his crew chiefs then he’s like I
want a race crew chiefs saying back it
down back it down save more fuel save me
more fuel the team have all this
information telling them man they can
calculate that fuel mileage they know
how hard Denny’s mashing the gas and all
that stuff right and so they know when
they need him to say more and they know
how much he needs to lift and how much
they you know he’s got to lift until
they’re they’re happy with
it uh I don’t love that I don’t love the
fuel mileage racing I don’t think
anybody
does uh hear a lot of ideas on how to
fix it adding another stage I don’t love
that um
but might be all all we can do what
about shortening the race don’t love
that to like 400 miles from 500
so you know that’s like giving me less
candy bar that’s like giving me less
Tater chips in the bag you’re pissing me
off stop
it you know what I’m saying kind of no
it is that’s what it is Andrew okay
Andrew I bought a bag of Tater chips you
do this you ever done this you buy a bag
of Tater chips you open it up you’re
like this ain’t half full
this is a crime I’ve had that experience
before don’t give me less
race oh our race we don’t like our race
so let’s just do less of it would you
rather have okay so like on actions
detrimental they talked about like the
idea of like what if we did a 400 mile
race and Denny so I I was thinking about
this yesterday if the fuel Windows 40 to
41 laps you could do a 150 mile race
which I think maths out to 400 miles
4040 70 you pit after each stage and you
have to pit at least once in the third
stage and you’re not really focused on
the fuel window and you’re getting
aggressive racing the whole time I feel
like that’ be better that’s a way to get
that that’s a way to get that but I
don’t think I have a shorten the race
why don’t you just put enough stages in
there to get that solution that you want
to where the guy basically what you’re
telling me is you want the guys to not
have to worry about fuel mileage run as
hard as they can to the end of the stage
yeah right without having to pit so just
add another stage don’t take away racing
don’t take don’t you just said you don’t
want to add another stage well don’t if
if if you’re giving me the choice
between taking away candy bar shortening
up my candy bar right or taking chips
out of the bag versus adding another
stage I’m gonna say just add the stage
man I don’t want less
racing okay I don’t want less racing and
I don’t think the stages really change
like okay so then they run all out and
they can’t pass then they’re just
running to by sure all right all right
let me ask you that’s fair I’ll give you
that look what do we want we want
exciting racing right we don’t want less
racing we want more racing but if the
less racing gives you better racing I
don’t think it does though it does
they’re just going to run around two by
two and then the like it’s in that case
in that case if that was the case then
we’ll just have a 20 lap
race perfect I mean what a bra that
would be you need more than that why I
mean it was exciting you liked it sure
it’s I’m I I still think you need
substance I’m not asking for a whole
like to be taken a whole lot away this
100 miles let’s have this conversation
don’t back down don’t back off I okay
so do you love racing yes I do how much
of it do you want a lot I still think
400 miles is a good amount why
what the hell 400 you just pick one pick
that out of thin air well 400’s a pretty
standard number I feel like in the cup
series The Ser we have 500 Mile races
400 mile races One 600 600 five like
most all Races should be 500 miles that
is like our Benchmark really yes now
look there’s some there’s some examples
where we should not run 500 Miles like
Pocono do I mean there’s some examples
where 400 miles makes more sense not at
Talladega not at Daytona I mean you know
I think they run the 400 in July to
separate it from the day 2500 so you
don’t have two day 2500s I get that but
it you know at Talladega there’s no need
to if you love racing and I could sell
you exciting racing you would buy as
much as you could get because you love
it it is your favorite freaking thing
right and so let’s make the racing as
good as we can make
it and not have less of it I just don’t
buy that argument like I don’t like and
I’ve been a
driver I’ve been a driver and I’ve said
this very thing I don’t like to hear
drivers talk about shorten and
races I don’t think
drivers I don’t want I don’t want to
hear drivers first like I want to if a
fan watching a race right we get 100 so
you got 150 200 fans in a room and
they’re all saying this is too dang long
then I’m think about shortening the race
up because they’re the ones that are
watching
it right if a race if a fan says man I
want more of that I want a 600 mile race
at this track this is awesome then we’re
going to make it 600 miles sorry drivers
no you don’t love running 600 miles
you’d rather run 400 that’s too too bad
so I don’t want to hear about I don’t
want hear from drivers about shortening
races I used to be one I used to say
that I used to talk about shortening
races so I should know drivers don’t
have any business you were you talking
about it you’re one of those people I
know so I so I can talk so I can speak
about it today and tell you that we
don’t need to listen to drivers about
race
links I’m sorry we
don’t and so even if you know I feel
like if you if you have the race that
you
prefer right that ultimately that is the
best Al that’s the best result and
trying
to I think shortening a race to make it
more exciting is is is a is a very lazy
way to get there and so the hard work
and the hard way to get there is the way
to
go the easiest route is not going to get
us the the result we want so chopping
off 40 laps of the race or whatever is a
lazy way
to you
know to to to try to to try to get the
end result you want I’d rather add a
stage I mean why not stage racing is
here to stay we’re not going to get rid
of stages you know I know the fans will
say I you know I don’t love the stages
but it’s here we we’re not we’re not
going to be able to change that some
races might need more stages how how
cool would that be if you know they I
hate this term Crown Jewel but talk talk
what if the Crown Jewel races had more
stages had more points available so
that’s that’s kind of what Denny he
didn’t like the idea of adding a stage
because like should T that means
Talladega all of a sudden is worth more
than other races so it’s like so he
wants to shorten it he didn’t really
have a they were discussing the options
but he didn’t like the idea of adding
the stage because
it would make talad valuable I have an I
would take an entirely different route I
wouldn’t I wouldn’t change the length of
the
race I would consider adding a stage
because why not I don’t I don’t
whatever but
so
the fuel mileage and fuel saving is so
important at that race because basically
the only thing they do on Pit Road is
put fuel the car you don’t really have
to change the tires because the tires
are so good so
durable the cars are locked down to the
racetrack pretty good so they don’t
really abuse the tire that much and
they’re kind of limited they’re kind of
restricted on speed right so they’re not
they’re not using that tire as hard as
we used to use it back in the
day and
so they also made changing the tire
faster
right and so that made fueling the car
even more critical and and and something
you want to do even less of right and
so they’re never going to be able to
make the you know you’re never going to
be able to make changing the tires you
know harder or
slower but if you needed to change them
more
often that would bring you to Pit Road
and and you would then have opportunity
to put the car the fuel in the car
because the driver’s going to be begging
for these tires right I can’t make the
moves and be aggressive with the wheel I
can’t drive the car and do things I want
side Drafting and all that throwing in
the blocks without better tires so put
tires on my car they they’re going to be
they’re going to be putting tires on the
car putting fuel in it more
often fuel savings is no longer a
problem
so you
know I don’t uh I don’t know that
they’ll you know I think that what we
may learn with the tire on the short
tracks may be able to help us in this
scenario as well can we get a tire that
you
know it ain’t going to have a lot of
fall off because they’re going to run
around there wide open but can you get a
tire that does get a little
uncomfortable in the pack you know after
a handful of laps you’re like uh I got
to work on the handling and man I need
some tires to be more
aggressive so that would be
that would be helpful I think
so but as long as the crew chiefs are
telling them to Safe fuel they’re it’s
kind of you know kind of is what it
is it’s not it’s not as much of a NASCAR
problem as some things tend to be right
this is more of a of a of a
strategy that is kind of kind of
developed right this strategy is sort of
developed it is being encouraged by
teams by Engineers by crew chiefs right
this
is a response to how this car performs
on Pit Road and on the racetrack and so
fix work on those things work on that
sure chopping the race
up
doesn’t fix why this is
happening I don’t know I just feel like
if they’re I mean Denny Denny said if
they could get within a few window
they’d be running hard yeah they would
because stage points at the end of the
day I get it are out of
stage that’s the easy route out a
stage that’s the easiest thing to do to
fix
it but if you really want to fix it at
Talladega Daytona all these
places then they need to make the guys
want to get down Pit Road more because
they need tires and then therefore
getting opportunity to put the fuel in
that they
really don’t care to put in the car no
more than they need
right would you uh I’m just thinking oh
and
sorry
when there’s another thing that that
that makes them want to do this strategy
so when they do go hammer down in those
last 30
laps you are where you are you can’t
pass you can’t pull out a line the car
has too much drag so Kyle KY bush is
talking talked about this then he talked
about it so they’re all in a line and
you don’t want to
be right I’m sitting there I’m in fifth
we’re in 15th Place all of us right
running around the RAC trck running in
15th 30 laps to
go we don’t want to be in 15th you know
what it’s time to make a move let’s get
out of line because we need to we need
to we need to get a bunch of cars
together and pull out of line and we’re
going to go to the
front when you get out of line with this
car it’s so Dr
you just drop to the
back right and so you can’t pull out of
line how do they fix that you’re in 15th
with 30 laps to go and you’re you can’t
make any moves you you’re you’re you’re
you’re
scared to get out of the line because
you’re going to lose 15th you’re going
to lose you’re going to lose a lot of
track
position right saw um you saw the 54
Gibbs and them boys when they jumped up
to the top is over for them yeah
everyone sees that and they go oh [ __ ]
I’m not going up there
so when we’re hammer down with this car
running wide
open we our old cars could side draft
and make runs and find air and and you
could find people that see you moving
forward and they would go oh I’m getting
in that line and then you know you would
make moves and could drive yourself to
the front that’s not happening with this
car
we see it at Dayton and Talladega when
they really get after it and go hard it
it it sort
of it sort of forms two lines of
cars the entire field two by
two and really the only thing happening
is the front two cars kind of trading
the the lead
position and
so we have you know I think NASCAR could
could look
into how to take some drag off the car
right and how to how to figure out a way
to make the
car where you do you do want to get out
of line you’re okay getting out of line
you’re okay taking that chance because
sometimes it might be be productive to
do it um but that that’s tough that’s
tough to figure out that is so tough to
figure out I don’t envy the position
that NASCAR’s in
and to be quite honest when
they only ran that hard for the last 30
laps you have such a small sample size
to to go from to try to figure out how
to make any changes if you wanted to
right there’s a lot going on
there so let’s say let’s say
hypothetically we shorten the race or we
add the sage right and we get this fuel
you know we take the fuel mileage out
and they can run hard and they do right
yeah are we just going to see a 2 by two
parade I mean that’s that’s the the
problem I’m not arguing that wait wa
wait all right so we’ve fixed the fuel
mileage but now we have a 2 x two
parade that we we don’t love entirely
either right right so now we’re still
not entirely where we want to be so I
think there’s a little bit of work to do
um I still you know I still think the
race was exciting you know I still am
entertained uh especially in those last
handful of
laps um trying to figure out what who
was going to do what and who who could
who could make something out of nothing
something literally almost impossible
right is trying to find their way toward
the front in the middle of that pack uh
we get down to the last couple of laps
and Michael McDow is leading the race
coming off turn
four right and
he’s uh Brad goes to the high side and
Michael’s Michael throws the block there
and then Brad goes to the bottom Michael
throws another block that ultimately uh
gets him
wrecked so I saw Michael at the pickup
line at the school and um I talked to
him and I said he said man tell me
honestly what you think what do you
think I should do and I said honest you
know me I’m only going to throw one
block if that block doesn’t doesn’t work
you got
me um if you watch the race where me and
Jimmy Johnson get wrecked down the back
straightway by Vickers we I know they’re
do I know they’re making this move off
of two I know it’s coming so we come off
of the corner and I know it there’s not
much I’ve got in the toolbox to defend
this and so we come off the corner they
they make a move to pass me and I move
down one lane that was my
block right and so I stopped at that and
that’s pretty much the way I did it I’m
like I’ve you know I’m going to throw
one
move and if that move works it works if
it doesn’t it doesn’t
and the you know the the other car is
going to win the
race and so that’s what I tell Michael I
said man I I can’t throw that second
block I said the second
block is
a is a is a ticket to get turned right
you’re asking for it and he said man I I
had to he’s like I was willing to
die and I’m like willing to die he goes
yeah he said I was willing to die last
15
laps and so he’s like look at my
position in points it’s the only way I’m
going to get in the playoffs I’ve got to
do everything I can that was my moment
and i’ if and I’m willing to risk the
crash and whatever you know the end
result may be flipping upside down
whatever right destroyed he’s he knew
with 15 laps to go that he was going to
make that he was he was making that bet
all the chips are in whatever happens
happens and I’m like damn dude that was
not me I’m not willing it ain’t Checkers
or wreckers for me in that moment I’m
going to finish fourth or fifth if the
first block doesn’t doesn’t win me the
race fine you know I’m going to run on
across the line and and not you know not
be hit not be you know massaging a sore
neck the next
day um so that was profound man to hear
him say that like he’s like hey I
decided with 15 to go that I was it I
was going to win that race or just or be
destroyed and I’m like really and he
goes I had to because I don’t think I
can get in I don’t think I can point my
way in this year I’ve got to win that
was my
shot pretty crazy got to respect it yeah
that is pretty wild so I uh you know I I
walked I I saw him and I thought to
myself you know damn it I was very down
on
McDow because it’s like all right two
blocks man that’s too many you throw the
first one and Brad will tell you you
block your pay and Brad will wreck you
he don’t you a Gotta Be You ain’t even
got to be blocking Brad to get wreck by
Brad so he’ll just push you out of the
way so um I’m kidding Brad so um you
know that’s the one guy you damn sure
don’t want to be throwing Haymaker
blocks
on but uh the other thing too was when
he went up there to block the first time
Michael McDow said that he got a great
push from Brad and so he thought that
momentum would be enough to get back
clear in front of Brad for the second
block but as Brad moved down he then got
a push from the car behind him as well
and Michael is me Michael in his mind
and I know he’s doing this because we
all do it Michael as he’s running that
as he’s going through the tribal and
he’s thinking about take making this
block he’s literally measuring in his
head the distance between him and the
cars around him about to the inch right
and he’s like he’s feeling this run that
he got from the two car or the six car
he’s feeling this push and he’s like
that gave me a foot and a half that gave
me a foot I think coming down I should
clear he’s not counting on the push that
he’s getting that Brad’s getting right
and he’s that’s where the misjudgment
comes but uh pretty pretty
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my ass off man well I love that um one
of the coolest things about watching a
race is seeing
somebody uh the winner truly
appreciate uh what they’ve done what uh
what does win I I know what this is I
know what the answer is but what is
winning at Talladega feel like what is
because I know not not so much like what
does winning the race and how that race
played out feel like but like Talladega
is is hard to win it’s a it’s a unique
racetrack a special racetrack fans love
it the big parties what’s winning there
like feel like for
you I’ve I’ve done it uh two different
ways right um you know when I won there
in the xinity car i’ had made some poor
decisions uh in the opening laps of the
race I’d hit the fence ripped the right
side of it off but our car was fast and
that one like I knew we were we were
good enough to win
um and so holding that one off and
winning that one was was really nice um
I think it ended up being our first win
of the year that year
too but this one was like I mean I it
was a roller coaster of emotions right
like we we pit when we did as a group of
Toyotas and I mean I look in my mirror
and at the time I thought all of them
were gone so I was like damn that really
stinks I mean there went our shot then I
realized oh wait we p no one else had so
we’re going to be right at the front I’m
like all right well we still have a shot
at this and um as that race was like
closing in you know me and Michael I
feel like and Martin and and um Brad
were all kind of just gauging okay who’s
got what you know and who’s gonna time
it and um going down the back there I
thought okay we’re in good shape and
then just the energy disappeared really
it was a very odd sensation it’s just
like we were going and then it we me and
Martin just kind of stalled out and the
bottom just took off and I was like well
damn there it goes that’s our shot it’s
gone so I immediately kind of in my
mind some you know I know points are big
and some big contenders went out and are
having bad days I’m like all right I
just got to finish I just got to finish
if it’s fifth if it’s 10th I’ve got to
finish and coming out of
four um I didn’t know how crazy it was
going to get in front of me
but I mean they they got so wild in
front of me I’m like oh my God I just
got to survive this wreck and Michael
goes crashing in front of me and I I
mean I didn’t lift but I I did hit the
break I didn’t realize that just
reactionary I hit the break and I don’t
I don’t think I clear Michael if I don’t
hit the brakes just that little bit that
I did and as crazy as it sounds I’m door
to door with Brad and I’m not even
looking at Brad anymore I’m looking at
the lights on the fence I’m like oh my
gosh lights are green they’re green
they’re green and then we got to the
line I’m like holy crap we just won this
race I couldn’t believe it I mean not
even 15 seconds ago I thought our shot
shot to win was gone so in this
situation it was just a roller coaster
of emotions because I thought I watched
it slip away not even 15 seconds
earlier pretty incredible man
um the emotions that a driver goes
through in in a restrictor plate I still
call it that but it’s a super Speedways
the emotions that you go through um in
those final moments are so so profound
you win the race right and um what I
guess what is the first thing that you
think about do you think about playoffs
do you think about how hard this team’s
work to get here um do you think about
uh you know Denny and Michael your
owners uh what is your first you think
about your family your son them you know
your your family witnessing what you’re
doing and being successful what’s the
first thing you think
about well um there’s a lot of things
going through my mind but uh selfishly
the first thing I think
about is you know the number of races
already this year that have kind of
slipped away you know I feel like um
Chase Elliott stoen from us at Texas so
I was like well that was really sweet we
got one back we stole one back so for
me yes we got five playoff points and it
locks Us in but I know this team’s good
enough you know even if we we don’t win
races to be a part of of the playoffs so
um yeah I mean selfishly that’s the
first thing came mind like all right we
got one back we stole one back but then
you know as I’m coming on the racetrack
I mean that was a crazy finish so you
know I’m just kind of taking the moment
with the fans and then um I didn’t know
if B was gonna make that run out to the
uh start Finish Line it’s a little
further away than it was at
Daytona but um yeah I kind of lost my
mind I’ll be honest with you I thought
my burnout was pretty pathetic so I was
like well damn you know I need to do
something to make up for it so I’m like
I’ll climb the fence
and uh I should have took my helmet off
first because I couldn’t really see
where I was putting my feet coming back
down I got all the way up there and I’m
like okay this felt this was fun I’m
gonna climb back down it was really
exciting moment share with the fans on
my way back down my helmet’s just so big
I can’t see where my feet are I couldn’t
feel if I was getting them in the holes
of the
fence and every like four or five you
know motions and steps of going down I’m
like all right I can jump I look down
I’m still like eight feet from the
bottom of the from the fence like I
can’t jump yet so there’s about there’s
about three or four times I feel like I
about jumped and busted my ass I’m glad
I I took my time getting back down but
yeah getting um getting over to Victory
Lane and and seeing my son he came over
to the car and congratulated me right
away I’m like hey buddy you might want
to like cover your eyes are back up
there’s about to be a lot of Beast going
everywhere just don’t get in your eyes
um and then getting out of the car
celebrating that moment with the team
immediately and then turn around
and Michael Curtis Denny Bubba my whole
team being there um I think for all of
us it was just a huge moment because you
know everyone on the 45 team knows that
we’re really strong and it’s been it’s
been tough It’s been it’s been hard on
us to uh not capitalize on the speed
we’ve already had this year with those
wins so it just felt really great to um
steal one back like I said for us that
was that was I think why we were so
happy and then on top of that you know I
I cross start finish L I lose my mind
and then I hear Billy come on the radio
and says hey we’re taking MJ to Victory
Lane I was like oh he’s
here I thought he I thought there was a
chance he’d be there but I didn’t see
him for the race so when I heard that I
was like oh my gosh this finally
happened we’re gonna take him to Victory
Lane yeah so that’s my favorite thing
about um about your win is that Michael
was there and we got to
see uh his true uh genuine reaction to
success in this
sport um you know we we all I grew up uh
seeing his posters on the walls of of
all my friends and and this guy was just
a um you know just a an icon and and
Global you know property that was
just um so recognizable
and it’s insane to have him as a part of
our sport much less being successful in
it um but we I felt like we saw the
genuine Joy of him having success with
you guys um what were some of the what
were some of the cool moments I guess
that involved Michael uh in Victory Lane
with you I mean you you you you got it
it was just his excitement level um it
was very OB it was very apparent from
the moment I saw him how much this win
meant to him for him to be there how
much it meant to our team that he was
able to share it with us you know um and
I’ve even heard Denny talk about it and
and and Curtis and the others you know
Michael so badly wanted to get to
Victory Lane so it’s not necessarily you
know the things the words exchanged are
were were important and cool too but you
know the thing that was just so obvious
to me right from the moment getting out
of the car and seeing him is just how
much this meant to him and how excited
he was to to share that moment with us
so I’m just I’m just glad you know I I’m
I’m I’m happy that you know it’s really
cool that I was the car that got the
victory laying that day but but honestly
for me my excitement
level wouldn’t be much different at all
if if it was Bubba driving the car to
Victory Lane you know it’s just both of
us everyone here has been really wanting
to take that trip to Victory Lane with
him and it it’s really really cool it
happened in a place like Talladega
because the range of emotions you go
through as a driver as an owner as a
competitor behind the wall jumping over
the wall um
I mean a lot happens every single lap um
especially on that last one man it’s
it’s you go through everything it feels
like Yeah I wanted to ask you quickly
about the race the you know the the fuel
mileage um saving and and and how much
of that really is going on for you um
what is your thought process as a driver
throughout this I mean you know you’re
you’re also trying to you know score
stage points so what what’s the balance
between racing right and also trying to
position yourself for that end you know
being toward the front at the end when
track position is critical so you know
everybody’s everybody’s largely saying
yeah just a lot of fuel mileage saving
up until the end but it’s not really so
much that because the stages themselves
dictate that you must compete to try to
get those points available yeah for sure
it’s I feel like it’s a it’s a balance
that shifts stage to stage and race to
race um you know the crazy thing about
this
is I don’t know if if if the fuel
strategy isn’t a part of our race at
Talladega I don’t know if we have any
movers you know comers and goers that
sort of thing I don’t think you have the
shakeups that you do in those stages
because I mean you look at the end of
that race uh after you know the Toyotas
unfortunately crashed and um largely
outside of you know Josh Barry sliding
up into the hole that uh Ty Gibbs left
Oben that when when him and Kyle bus
went to the third lane I
mean not much changed position wise I
mean Michael would take the lead have
control of both lanes but I mean you’re
for the majority of the time your front
row was still the front row that that
that last green flag run so I mean I’m
kind of torn on the whole thing you know
I I don’t enjoy going out there and
saving fuel but I feel like as a driver
you make a choice every single lap or
you make a choice at the beginning of
your run how you’re going to approach it
and you’re kind of gambling right you’re
going to gamble on how much fuel you
save versus your track position you’re
giving up um so I feel like if that gets
taken away man we’re just going to be
riding around out there two by two or
you know in a bottom Lane and a middle
Lane and there won’t be a third lane
ever so kind of torn the whole thing I
agree with you I was thinking about that
before you got on if um you know if you
watched the last 30 laps of the race it
was you know when the when everybody
full song and the cars are going as hard
as they can go there is no real this car
doesn’t really provide an opportunity to
do anything creative to move forward
you’re kind of scared if you’re sitting
you know 12th 10th you you or 15th
you’re you really can’t do anything you
don’t have anything in the toolbox to
get out and make a change move forward
right and so if we did do things to try
to eliminate the fuel mileage racing at
a stage shorten the race whatever it may
be you’re just going to see that the
entire race right which we’ve seen at
some Daytona races and so forth so
there’s a little work to do um but I uh
I appreciate you man I think you’re such
a great personality in our Sport and
you’re you’re great at showing that um
and engaging with fans either in person
or on social media and so forth um he uh
we give him a little uh hard time about
the scooter gang and the guy brings me
so I I want to say this is this is a
this is a a a nod to your character he
asked me if I’m at Martinsville because
he has a scooter he wants to give me and
I’m I’m I’ve kind of got an idea that’s
what’s going on we didn’t connect at
Martinsville and so he brings it over to
Junior Motorsports and um I brought that
home and me and Isa and Nicole have been
riding around the yard because I I
didn’t have a scooter they had scooters
and so you’ve added a cool little uh new
um addition to to my kid and my my kid
and in our lives uh I appreciate you
you’re uh you know you’re a part of the
story here at Junior Motorsports with
your your your history with us and we
love to see you have success man thanks
for giving us some time today I know
it’s a busy week for you every week’s a
busy week for the cup drivers these days
thanks for giving us a bit of your time
and and good luck going forward hey I’m
glad you mentioned it thank you yeah
scooter gain made it to uh Victory Lane
how about that sure did all right buddy
we’ll see you man thank you all right
thank you guys
Tyler is a great dude um I like the
person that he has grow grow grew into
you know when we got to working with
Tyler in the Xfinity series just an
incredible Talent really really really
good behind the wheel um and he was
growing up right maturing becoming a man
and uh and he gets into the cup series
and he’s you know he engages on social
media he has his own opinions he shares
with fans what he likes doesn’t like
what he thinks um what he
appreciates uh and he’s got he’s not
vanilla right he doesn’t sort of you
know he doesn’t he doesn’t disappear you
know you know he’s out on the racetrack
but you also know he’s part of the sport
which is very it’s a good value for us
good asset for the series he’s uh out of
all the drivers I think of the cup
series he’s always given me the time and
always been courteous and like like he
is approachable he’s very apprach I like
that too especially for somebody in the
in the in your side of the you know
industry yeah I was interviewing him at
Daytona once and he saw these fans up
you know like how the fans can Overlook
the garage right he’s all the way down
at the holler and he’s like hey someone
give me a Sharpie I’m going to go all
the way up there and sign for those fans
and it’s like you don’t have to do that
but he did it it’s cool so easy to rout
for yeah for sure yep I
agree
um
well I was was going to I was kind of I
wanted to I don’t I don’t like keeping
them guys too dang
long but I was kind of wanting to ask
him about you know as you’re coming as
you’re coming toward the end of that
race and the you know the anticipation
is
building I this was the same back when I
was
racing the chance of there being the
crash right at the end on that last lap
or last couple you knew there was a big
chance the crashing that chance of
wrecks are going up chance you being
involved in that wreck is going going up
we used to I mean we even today say you
got like 80% chance of crashing when you
go to Dayton
Talladega um whether it’s truck Xfinity
cup it doesn’t matter it’s a pretty high
percentage I wish that percentage was
lower but and it’s not a scientific
number but um as a driver right you ran
all day long and you’re coming toward
the end of this thing and you’re like
I’ve got myself in a great position but
the chances of wrecking are going up
that is hard that is hard to stomach
that that is out of your control right
usually when you’re in a race car you
have a lot of influence over whether
you’re you’re going to wreck or be
wrecked you have a lot but at Talladega
in that
pack you don’t and as they coming to the
end you know the jump scare is
coming there’s nothing you can do about
it what do those closing laps feel like
when you’re in that POS like what’s
going on in your head is it nerves is it
like you know hopefully you’re busy you
know distracted by you know trying to
position yourself in front of the right
car or get the right get your lane
moving or trying to figure out what you
you know trying to take advantage of
somebody else’s bad
mistake um you know you’re trying to
stay busy and occupied and and and
trying to be productive that you’re not
thinking
about uh because if you start thinking
about dang we’re you’re going to wreck
you’re done you’re checked out it it is
over you know you might have that com
you might you might have that feeling
coming down to the last lap like he did
he’s sitting there going man I thought a
race was over I’m just going to try to
get to the finish line and score some
points and then it gets dicey and now
they they’re wreck you know you can’t
you just have to
drive through those moments but if if 15
to go 10 to go and you start worrying
about wrecking them wrecking or a wreck
happening it’s hard to to to you’re
checking out and you can’t do that yeah
you’re check you’re you’re not
productive you’re not thinking about how
to move forward how to win the race how
to do whatever you do in the next Corner
in the next you know it’s hard and then
it’s hard to plug back
in with just a few laps to
go oh man I don’t miss that man I was
gonna say that sounds so stressful like
that nervous anticipation especially
like when you’re just riding and waiting
for the move to happen waiting for
everything to build up like I feel like
each lap your heart rate would just rise
even even higher yeah I thought it was
fascinating how team you know the
Toyotas had they not wrecked how that
might have played out for them pushing
the whole field to run harder um they
basically came to Pit Road and said oh
we’re going to flip this race and change
the strategy we’re going to run you know
seconds faster than the pack and now the
pack is in trouble um almost kind of
reminds you of tire fallof in a sense
right yeah
so I uh you know we covered mcdow’s
moves at the end uh we covered Michael
Jordan and all of that
um Michael says that he loves it uh
loves the loves the sport and a
competitiveness from it but he but he
doesn’t love not being in control of
what’s Happening he feels you know as an
owner I do that too I’m sitting there on
the box and I’m like I love this and it
does drive my I do want to win and when
we get close in races you get sucked in
right very emotional and very it’s very
um thrilling but you have zero control
as an owner you’re not you’re not
influencing in that moment right in the
F in a final lapse you’re not
influencing the success or failure at
all that’s very foreign I guess for
someone who’s been in the game right and
he’s been behind the wheel um so the so
the owner side of it people have asked
me in the past when I first started
getting in when I was actually racing in
in the cup series I would get that
question a lot do you like being an
owner or a driver what’s more
nerve-wracking right when you’re coming
down to the final appps and man when
you’re a driver you’re steering the
thing you’re in control when you’re an
owner you’re it’s not in your hands you
have no influence now you’ve got it
there uh you gave them the cars but in
those final laps what happens is not
nothing you nothing you have anything to
do with um and so when you win it’s
weird you’re wi you how’s the feeling
different you win you go to Victory Lane
and you’re
like I didn’t do
anything but I’m I’m happy I’m gonna
celebrate I’m gonna get in the picture
but I don’t feel like I did anything
today everybody else here did something
right the the the fuel guy filled the
full fuel tank full Tire Guy changed
tires driver drove the car crew chief
called the race
I’m just
here so weird is this your subtle way of
saying you want to be on the pit crew
no it’s just weird but anyhow I mean you
got the car there like you said you did
a lot yeah to get the vehicle there yeah
but just nothing in the race I
understand that it’s got to be a weird
feeling yeah you
[Music]
know welcome to ask Junior presented to
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media so we’re thankful for them and
we’ve gotten some great questions we had
a great show already today tomorrow
Casey Atwood comes on the show had talk
to Casey in Forever can’t wait to see
what he’s been up to and what he thinks
about his racing
career har he’s still running some laps
somewhere these days so can’t wait to
hear about that but uh all right let’s
get right to it people in the YouTube
chat are saying hello they’re excited to
be live um this first question coming
from Twitter from ktie uh what’s your
opinion of the front stretch interviews
versus Victory Lane you know I
um I work in the I work in the networks
now and so I as a fan I I you know
probably wouldn’t love the the front
stretch interview as
much I like
the I liked the driver going to Victory
Lane and that being where we saw them
first right because it’s weird to me
they get out right they’re animated and
we see them on the front stretch and
then they go to Victory Lane and they’re
animated all over again right a whole
another experience there probably fine
for them either way
but the thing that I loved the thing
that going to Victory Lane and doing the
interview the winter interview there
often gave us the chance to get second
or third place right get it get a little
bit of a post race built up I see a ton
of race fans in our um you know in our
social media begging for more post
race and so I feel like that you know
the move to the front straight away was
twofold it was to get the driver’s very
early initial emotion in a very very
cool space right right there with the
fans and the flag stand and all of that
but also it’s to get that winw interview
out of the way right so the the you know
the networks if necessary need can move
on they can and
uh I hope that uh you
know I don’t I don’t love or hate the
front stretch interview but I do wish we
had a more you know more a bigger post
race
immediately right you know right after
on the same channel don’t change
channels don’t go somewhere else hey go
to you know if you want more interviews
go here don’t do that let’s have the
post race everything give me about 30
minutes I think you should interview the
top five
guys uh you know and see who you know
who finished in the top five and hear
from them and
um and and that would that would be cool
not really answering the question but I
don’t I don’t love it or hate it I just
I like seeing the driver in Victory Lane
Victory Lane is a place that’s it’s kind
of like the scoring pylon right we talk
about whether you know we talked about
it earlier in the show about the scoring
pylons yes they’re expensive and they
they they break and they’re Obsolete and
old ones have to get uh removed but
they’re kind of part of the sport part
of the history and Victory Lane is a
Victory Lane at every racetrack
is it’s a very important space right
right and so I want to see I want to see
the I want to see the winner there
that’s where they’re trying to go and
that’s where they’re going to see their
team and owners
and so build that
space right so that you want to have the
interview there right and some of the
Victory Lanes do right there’s a a lot
of fan access for some of these Victory
Lanes Talladega has a bunch of fans
around Phoenix Phoenix is another good
one really good one I like Martinsville
too it’s right on the front stretch
everyone can stick around and see do you
think any of your wins like your
post-race interviews would have been
different if you were interviewed on the
front Str versus in Victory Lane I I do
because um you know
you when you win the race I don’t
everybody body’s different for me when I
won the race I could not wait to see the
team CU I drove their car to win and
they made the car that was good enough
for me to win the race with I gotta see
Tony Jr I gotta see Tony Senor I gotta
see Steve
lart Greg guys I want to go be with my
team first that’s the fir that’s all I
want right see Amy
and so that front straightaway interview
is like a hurdle to that now sometimes
they meet you out there listen that’s
true you know you win the Daytona 500 it
depends you know you win a big race like
that you might park it on the front
straightaway and get out because you
like I want to feel that energy from
this from the fans I need that Victory
Lane’s too far
away so you might I mean it just has its
place yeah maybe the Victory Lane you
know maybe the frustrated interview is
particular to the track right and the
moment the bit the size of the moment
yeah I love it we’re talking about
winning we’re having fun uh this next
question is coming from Jerry what is
the most uh heartbreaking race loss that
you’ve had gosh way to bring it down
Jerry come on I mean there’s The One
That Got Away I’ll think of a I’ll think
of a dozen when we walk out of this room
um but the the probably two that jump
out right away are
the losing Talladega to Jeff Gordon when
vicer spun in the middle of the corner
um I’m in the act of I just s I’m side
drafting the 24 and I’m I’m going by him
no question right and the caution comes
out in that moment and they say he’s
ahead when we’re in turn three and four
and they threw all the beer cans at jeff
which I
loved um and he instead of getting up by
the fence like instead I’ve talked about
this on the show but instead of by the
fence so the cans would would not hit
the car he pulled farther away from the
fence so they could get it over and
there man there were full full cans
bouncing off this car boom you got to be
pissed to throw a full can of beer
that’s I was so angry you know that you
this is this is back
when you know it was new for races to be
decided in in that way that’s right this
was you know you’re sitting there and
sitting there in the car and they’re
like yep Jeff was ahead when the caution
came out and you’re like well where on
the track were we when when you decided
the race is
over and how could you be so
precise to say yep that signifies the
moment it’s like he didn’t even know how
you lost I know I didn’t know how I lost
was that to continue your streak was
that like to yeah I think it would been
five in a row yeah I thought so
um and then we go back and win again I
think it would have ended up being like
six in a row total the other one is the
the loss to jool leano same thing right
get the restart I’m going by Joey where
where is this Talladega oh oh yeah 2015
I think yeah um I’m going by Joey I’ve
got him oh yeah and there’s a wreck
behind me and they’re like feels
Frozen I’m like I’ve I’ve got one I
remember watching and it was the
Coca-Cola 600 where you ran out of gas
oh great that that’s a good great one
right I want to win I wanted a points
win at Charlotte grew up in the area
been going there as a kid all my life
never missed a race at Charlotte no
points race win for me in exfinity or
cup just that All-Star Race it’s that
close come out of the gate win an
All-Star Race you’re thinking home track
Charlotte I’m gonna get me some trophies
here no not for me so yeah that’s
another one I think getting passed by
Harvick with like 10 laps to go at
Martin
one year that was a tough loss I did not
do what I needed to do I could have just
I I go I remember this right this is why
this is how bad this stings I I didn’t
adjust the brakes like I’m I don’t know
if that would have mattered but I’m
sitting there I’m getting looser and
looser on entry and he’s coming and I I
could have like done something done
something damn
it so we just bring us down Jerry it’s
good it’s good to talk
about does does it matter yeah does it
still matter matter yes yes will the
sting ever go away no I don’t why should
it no if it if it does then did it ever
matter I guess that’s a great Point
that’s a good way of looking about it
the thing is shows you that it mattered
yeah it’s fine that it matters I want it
to matter that’s a country song Sting
still matters or something like that is
it really no I’m saying it should be
we’re I don’t think we write that I
think we’re going to write it right now
actually um this next question is coming
from Cole you know we have the uh 99
bottles of beer the wall for the uh you
know brushing the teeth um are there any
other good like parenting lessons that
you’ve had uh had come across recently
uh I can’t think of one I mean that’s
that I hate being put on the spot um
because it’s tough to to come up with
that but
uh man I don’t
know not
really even like uh like okay then this
is like a somewhat of a follow-up but
like any any lessons you can tie from
racing to life that you’ve you know
because like you’ve sometimes have to
explain why a driver loses you know like
I know uh you and I are watching Justin
all I mean the personal stories about CH
you know the personal stories
about um being a father being a b being
a good dad or a bad dad or making
mistakes and all that those are I’m
going to throw them in the personal
notes and we’re going to bring I’ll
bring that to the show being being asked
off you know on the spot like what’s the
new life hack you know I mean
everybody’s waiting down yeah it’s like
it’s not the way it works
okay but I’m trying I mean I I’m trying
to think of of I mean you know I will
say uh you can come back with some more
I’ve got something specific about that I
was watching a TV show and uh one of the
characters their kid was having
nightmares what do you like what’s a
thing that you do with that is there
anything like you know you talk to them
or stay up with them or dude I uh I got
a video on my phone wa year a couple
years ago Isa had night tears and she
would wake up in the middle of the night
and um dude it was freaky because um I
got this one video and she gets out of
her bed and she’s walk she’s pacing in
her room around her bed
sobbing and in fast MH and you’ll go in
there and wake them up
or you’ll go in there and calm them down
right and and and get them back in the
bed and they’ll go right back to sleep
and they’ll get up in the morning and
not remember none of it like it’s like
sleepwalking yeah you’re like dude how
do you not remember that like they
weren’t awake
and
Kelly’s uh son Wyatt has these night
terrors where he he gets up and he’s
walking around the house and it’s freaky
um so you know we’ve
we uh you know Nicole doesn’t have these
at least she doesn’t yet um Nicole just
got in just got out of the crib and into
a bed where she can crawl in and out so
we’re dealing with that she’ll you know
she’s learned hey I can get out right
the first couple nights she slept in
that thing never come out of it now
she’s like you’ll shut you’ll say n no
shut the door read a book right shut the
door turn the light out you can just
stand
there’s up the door what are you doing
you’re out of bed already yeah bored y
she’s like hey I’m not you know get back
in what are we doing you’re going to
sleep yeah but the 99 bottles of beer on
the wild is no longer um working it’s
not no it worked for about two or three
nights dang a new song yeah that is
disappointing to hear uh I’m taking a
peek here at the YouTube chat this next
question coming from blizzard uh I think
I think that’s your their username uh
any good you know we were talking about
Michael Jordan throughout the show I
know you’ve interacted with him a
handful of times like what was it like
meeting him and you know talking to him
yeah I was uh he came to he came to
Homestead when Denny was racing for the
championship one year before 2311
existed and it was a big deal everybody
in the in everybody our our bosses at
NBC
were um clamoring to figure out how to
get to him and get a get an interview
he’s here he’s at the race we got to get
him on TV right and we and and can he
can he talk to us so they they kind of
threw me in there and and and he said
yeah I’ll do a deal with Dale so um I’m
I’m like wow right as a I’m in early
early stages of my broadcasting career
and I’m thinking what an
incredible opportunity for me yeah you
know this is like this is like getting
getting the call to drive uh for Rick
hendrik or or getting getting getting
called to drive somebody’s car you’re
like what a great chance you know and so
I don’t know I I I hesitate to go back
and look at the interview now because I
was so green but I leaned into just
being excited and and giddy about the
opportunity to talk to him he was super
cool stepped out of this motor coach we
did two or three questions thanks
appreciate it we’re glad you’re here and
uh so that was
probably um that was a cool moment a
long time ago I guess maybe 10 years ago
or more I was still
racing Michael came to Charlotte to to
one of the races and my buddy Shawn is a
huge uh fan and has all the shoes right
and so I told Shawn I’m usually not a
thoughtful caring person but I said to
Shawn I said hey man Michael Jordan’s
going to come I know you love Jordans do
you got a pair that you would love to
get autographed I’m gonna I will ask him
to sign them I’m it’s my mission and he
gave me this really unique pair and this
special box right and he’s like these
these are the ones and so I take them to
the driver’s meeting and and soon as
soon as they announce that the meeting
is over it’s like a Mad Dash right to
get to him everybody right dang everyone
has the same idea and I just boom I just
push all the way through there with my
box and I’m like Michael Michael and he
he saw me goes hey and shook my hand and
I said I really got to get you to sign
these shoes man these are my best
friend’s shoes and he signed them and so
I hated I I hate to ask for autographs
but it was for for Shawn and so um
that’s really the only two interactions
I can recall that I’ve had with him and
so pretty neat though I mean if he’s
going to you know he’s he’s he’s a
successful owner in the sport I’m sure
there’ll be more in the future and um
and it’s pretty neat seeing what the
impact that’s had on the sport this week
what is Sean’s reaction to like you
giving him the shoes back you’re like
look at this I did it yeah I think he’s
happy very thrilled that’s pretty
awesome awesome stuff this week on S Jr
all right man appreciate everybody
tuning in good to see everybody again um
we have a there’s a lot of things that
we talked about in this show uh that you
guys are going to want to make sure you
hear uh we talked about the the summer
stretch we got some pretty cool stuff
happening for us here at the Dell junr
download and again Casey Atwood comes in
for the guest segment for
tomorrow and um that’s it thanks for uh
thanks for tuning back in thanks Xfinity
for everything you do that Xfinity
Mobile 5G hotpots everywhere it’s good
stuff um won’t never let you down and
XFinity is a proud premere of Nas uh
proud Premiere partner of NASCAR thank
you for everything you do for dirty mode
media
all right so Tampa Tims is at the desk
we’re going to talk about dirty mode D
dropping every Thursday on our dirty
mode media platforms you don’t want to
miss it if you want to you know if you
want to gamble play some bets obviously
going to hear some great advice and and
and and uh Steve lart and Tampa Tims and
those guys are going to tell you some of
the things they’re thinking about uh for
the upcoming race this weekend at do but
also honestly man I think the show
provides really really good Insight on
handicapping the field on who’s going to
be good who should be good right you
hear some really really important
statistical information that might help
you understand who the Front Runners
might be this P this coming weekend so I
think the I think this the show serves
multiple purposes but Tampa Tims uh you
cashed out on Lano this past weekend
yeah that was kind of the strategy going
in for dirty Modo was to kind of try
some new things and legano is pretty
aggressive uh at these tracks usually
and he likes to lead all the so what’s
the initial bet uh for him to win for
him to win the race I know but how much
uh I placed
$10 so it what point in the race are you
thinking you’re going to cash out do you
have a plan like hey man this gets to 12
bucks whatever yeah after stage two was
kind of where it should have gotten to a
profit now I I didn’t really see a big
profit one but I I got to a point where
I just cashed out and I said I’m done
with this bet I think I ended up just
breaking even just making 10 bucks yeah
so I mean a lot of people on I asked on
Twitter if they got a good option people
right now you were feeling that he
wasn’t going to pull through and win the
race so it was time to bail yeah I
bailed because the strategy was to bail
so I just kind of kept through and said
okay I’m fine with even money if I lost
50 cents lost 50 cents um just cashed
out enjoyed the rest of the Nashville
trip I was on but uh I think the books
got smart at Talladega which kind of
backfired on our strategy but that’s
fine we just tried something new it
didn’t work out next time might work out
next differently so that’s an
interesting thing um I think is you know
do you think as NASCAR
uh gets gets deeper into this sort of
you know in in sort into the bedding now
that North Carolina’s opened up where
NASCAR really lives and
Breeze do you think
that as popularity in gambling and
sports betting ra rises in
NASCAR you see a difference in how the
sports books are setting the odds you
know I have seen a little bit of a
difference the past especially I guess
at Super Speedway yeah I have I mean
I’ve seen them adjust drivers faster
than they did in the past you know Josh
Barry had a good two week run at the
short tracks and the next week he was
adjusted tremendously really yeah and
it’s still great value you’re still
making money if if it was to pull off
but they adjusted him and I’ve seen that
it’s a lot faster think about that Josh
Barry starting at the back of the field
you make a you know you make a bet for
him to win and then maybe you know with
five you know with 10 15 laps to go cash
out yeah what do you think the bet would
have been on
$10 you know joeo is a favorite right so
when you know cashing out and getting 50
cents when he’s in the top
five you know probably would have got a
good good you know offer to cash out
because that that’s a big you get a
higher offer right yeah because the high
$100 right yeah exactly they don’t want
to pay all that out they’ll still give
you a decent amount so yeah that could
have been a good one too but if he
doesn’t ever crack like the top 15
you’re never going to have the chance to
cash out and make money that’s a loser
yeah I’ve seen people just cash out the
and take a loss but not as much of a
loss that’s fine to because is over it’s
all gone yeah it’s all gone damn yeah
that doesn’t sound like
uh
so so let’s say I mean what was r x odds
you remember Legos reck oh reck oh race
winner he was I don’t remember exactly
but he was probably the the favorites
were plus a th000 right so anything from
I think he was maybe 1,200 to 1800 damn
those are good odds yeah they’re good
they’re not bad for the favorites yeah
plus thousand because there’s so many I
mean it’s it it is a good week to try to
even place a bit on a favorite too but
yeah it’s but picking the winner is like
a crapshoot sure especially there yeah
exactly all right what’s the plan for
Dober well we’re hoping to get back on
track the last two weeks at dirty Modell
were a little tough a little
unpredictable races to be honest with
you so nice to get back to a more maybe
predictable race um I’m looking at guys
that are going on concrete tracks uh the
professor’s got his predictor so I’m
sure he’s got that dialed up for
Thursday uh Ross Chastain Chase Elliott
two guys that come right to mind for the
outright win uh Martin TX Jr as well
he’s great here so we’ll see uh what the
odds are on those guys when they comes
out really yeah Larson larsson’s always
gonna be there but he’s he’s always
gonna be a favorite yeah that’s my
prediction for how the odds will come
out okay but so we’ll try to maybe
Target him in the match up who’s who’s
your Underdog who’s who’s somebody you
think it could sneak one out what about
a Bowman Bowman yeah bow the books talk
about not just a driver Alex Bowman they
have not adjusted really when he’s ran
well so see him stealing one at over
yeah that’s a good one too Hendrick
should be fast in general so that that’s
a good bet uh I I like Josh Barry too
I’m I haven’t done his the math on if
he’s you know what how he did in the
xinity he there in a cup series and he
did he did win in the Infinity Series so
yeah he seem that just seems like a
track if I’m going off just blank
knowledge of the sport I feel like he
would run run well at so so if you’re a
very conservative Gambler um maybe
uh you know if you’re not trying to hit
a big number at the end of the day
putting money down on Bowman and cashing
out when he’s sitting there in the top
five or the top three in stage three
might be not a bad strategy not a bad
strategy no all not at all I mean I’m
very intrigued with watching the live
betting aspect of this is so interesting
to me it’s stressful to watch but I like
watching to see what the number does
it’s it’s brand new I’ve never done that
before it’s fun to see what the books
will offer you at different tracks at
what point how high he can run up like
you said if he’s running top five can
you cash out it’s it’s it’s interesting
it’s worked some weeks hasn’t worked
some other weeks so 10 four man well um
good luck I hope you get it turned
around for do thank you thank you yeah
we’ll see you Tampa Tams thank
you all right it’s the white flag it’s
time to uh talk about the tear down with
Jeff Gluck and Jordan bian those guys
dropped already this week great show
every single week man such great Insight
from them I’ve been watching a lot of
the clips you guys are pushing out Jeff
and Jordan not only do they have their
opinions but I love that they have they
they’re true journalists man they’re got
to dig and get the facts and and and
give you some some great information you
do not want to miss the tear down every
week actions detrimental with Denny
Hamlin’s out as well door bumper clear
those guys off the rails as
usual um and dropping tomorrow Speed
Street with Conor Dy and Chase Holden we
talked about dirty Modo with Steve lart
Tampa dropping Thursday and djd reloaded
also out on Thursday last week Carla and
Andrew they talked to NASCAR’s Elton
sawer about the current state of
practice man we got into a conversation
about
practice you know I said we needed more
Chase Elliott said no we’re fine we
don’t need more that’s what inspired uh
that’s what inspired the show yeah and
then yeah I wonder what will inspire the
show this week I don’t know I’ve got a
few ideas okay well it’s been great djd
reloaded kicking buty every Thursday
that’s it it’s been a been a lot of fun
here Tuesday tomorrow
again
um Casey Atwood comes in and we’re
excited to see him finally it’s been a
long time since I’ve talked to him he
was eager to come in when we asked him
to come on the show uh should be a lot
of fun here in the bo jungle Studio
we’ll see y’all